I never thought this day would come!

[jwr2]

I never thought this day would come!

Ever since 1973 when I got my 1968 4001 I have owned and had a Rickenbacker as my "best" bass ...

Well those days have come and gone ... Now my Jazz bass with the East J-Retro preamp is my "best" bass.

Yes I've gone over to the dark side ... I am playing a 5 string active Jazz bass and I like it!

But there is light at the end of the tunnel ... I am going to put a preamp in some of my Rics and fenderbirds ...

[VRICKY63]

Well..........ultimately we must play what works . Fender Jazz basses work very well for me too . Fender is on the not too Dark side I love what Leo built

[berth]

Yes I've gone over to the dark side ... I am playing a 5 string active Jazz bass and I like it!

You missed Steinbergers and Wal's in your ahum,...... "evolution".

[nattiep]

Yes I've gone over to the dark side ... I am playing a 5 string active Jazz bass and I like it!

You missed Steinbergers and Wal's in your ahum,...... "evolution".

Hahahahahah!

[cheyenne]

Ahhh,, their all just tools Jeff.

The right tool for the job.

[edski]

I prefer my fretless Jazz bass to a Rick fretles...

Nice looker, Jeff!

[4stringnosing]

Other than the fact it has too many strings and too many batteries, it's perfect!

[nattiep]

Jeff, how are 5 strings on a 4 string pickup? work just fine?

[pedro.broggini]

Jeff, how are 5 strings on a 4 string pickup? work just fine?

Same question!

[jwr2]

8 alnico magnets cover 5 strings perfectly fine ... very similar to how a 6 pole toaster covers 4 strings on a Ric bass ... or covers 5 strings on the 4003s5 ...

So today I played and took 2 basses ...

That 4004ci 4-2-5 is a truely wonderful bass ... it doesn't have all the highs and lows the jazz has but it has a nice neck and a nice midrange growl ...

[ricnbacker]

I have a J and a P and soon to have a Thunderbird.

I have never felt comfortable with a Fender. The Ric was a perfect fit for me the first time I played it.

I played a Epiphone Blackbird the other day that I totally loved the feel of that, so much so that once I get it I am dumping the P and J for good. I have tried for years to get used to the feel of them and cant...

[atomic_punk]

Jeff, if you love the actives you have to at least try out a Music Man Stingray. It's got the best B string I've ever played.
Just my opinion...

[jwr2]

I have this one here ...

The clean punchy sound is interesting ... but not my favorite ...

Then sometimes it is nice to play a p-bass ...

[bottom4]

The only thing I don’t like about the Fender 5 strings is the 4+1 headstock. I much prefer the Lakland 3+2 look

[bob_atherton]

Nice bass Jeff. As you haven't been shot down in flames I will 'come out' and say that my prefered bass for a little while has been a MM Stingray 4 . I used to take my Ric 4000 and my Fender P to a gig but got fed up switching in the set. I also thought I must look a bit of a nerd, I mean these are just club and pub gigs, I've seen so many world class bands where the bassist does the whole set with just one bass. Anyhow..... the Stingray does all the tones I want and has a great neck, pretty much a Fender B neck which was always my favorite one that Leo made.

A small point but I've also fitted some Ernie Ball straplocks to the Stingray and these are really tough. I now throw the bass around a bit more and has made playing more fun and free. I might get some of these straplocks for my '72 4001 and throw that baby around a bit more one day.